PRESS-RELEASE. The first competitions began in International Ski Jumping Complex

Press release

September 25th, 2010 Almaty

Theme: The first competitions began in International Ski Jumping Complex

Ski Jumping Complex has been opened today in Almaty. Mayor of Almaty Akhmetzhan Yesimov took part in the opening ceremony. After solemn ceremony Continental Cup on ski jumping started here, within the frames of testing competitions of VII Winter Asian Games 2011.

Mayor of Almaty congratulated city residents on a significant event – opening of a unique sports construction of a world scale. Akhmetzhan Yesimov expressed thanks to Head of the State for support, due to which object construction had been finished. He noted, that in future the complex will be developed and three small ski jumps, and also sports school for children and youth will be constructed here. Now the complex includes everything, which is necessary for carrying out of VII Winter Asian Games.

«We are witnesses of the unique event. Formerly the question on carrying out of Winter Asian Games in Almaty was open, President of the Republic accepted our proposal and supported it, in spite of a difficult financial condition of the country caused by world crisis. According to Head of the State, Winter Asian Games will take place in Almaty, and the objects constructed for its carrying out: Sports Palace, Central Stadium, Medeu, Shymbulak, ski jump will further function for the benefit of city residents», - noted Mayor of Almaty.

International Ski Jumping Complex has already been recognized by international experts and sports functionaries as one of the best in the world according to technical parameters, architecture and natural conditions.

It is planned that in future International Ski Jumping Complex of Almaty will also host different cultural and entertaining events including concerts and show programs.

Leading sportsmen from 12 countries of the world including Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, Japan, Germany, Slovakia, Czechia, Estonia, the Netherlands, Austria, South Korea, Slovenia are taking part in Continental Cup on ski jumping. Among them winners of World Cup, Slovene ski jumper Primoz Peterka and Jakub Janda (the Czech Republic); prize-winner of Grand prix 2010 Kamil Stoch (Poland); participant of World Cup Mario Innauer (Austria); participant of the Olympic Games in Turin and Vancouver Ilya Roslyakov (Russia), etc.

Master of sports of the USSR, sevenfold champion of the USSR, President of Ski Jumping Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan Andrey Verveikin made the first ski jumping on a new K 125.

Competitions will last two days and will be finished on September 26th.